Hyundai Says Hydrogen Cars Aren’t Dead, Finding Customers Is Another Story
Hyundai Australia executive cites lack of buyers and infrastructure as key hurdles for fuel cell vehicles.
Hyundai maintains that hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are not a dead technology, but the automaker faces a significant challenge: convincing consumers to buy them.
What Happened
Scott Nargar, Senior Manager of Future Mobility & Government Relations at Hyundai Australia, stated that the primary obstacle for hydrogen vehicles is customer acquisition. "The biggest thing is you’ve got to find customers," Nargar told CarExpert. Despite this admission, he insisted that hydrogen remains viable for passenger vehicles. The second-generation Hyundai Nexo, unveiled in 2025 as a global model, features a 110-kilowatt electric motor and a 2.64-kilowatt-hour high-voltage battery buffer, offering a range of approximately 435 miles on a full tank of hydrogen.
Why It Matters
The lack of consumer demand is compounded by sparse refueling infrastructure and higher vehicle costs compared to gasoline and electric counterparts. While electric vehicles benefit from a well-established charging network and falling prices, hydrogen cars struggle with accessibility and affordability. Other manufacturers, including Toyota with the Mirai and BMW, have also invested in the technology, but widespread adoption has not materialized. Hyundai continues to invest in hydrogen as a diversification strategy, anticipating a future role for the technology even as electric vehicles dominate the current market.
The Bottom Line
Hyundai is keeping its hydrogen program alive despite limited real-world trials and significant infrastructure gaps, betting on long-term diversification rather than immediate mass-market success.
